Lisa: Hello, everyone!

Wow…I’m exhausted already, Lisa…

Are your kids self-sufficient in the morning, or do you have a husband who herds the kids and get them to school? Do you work from home, aside from the onsite responsibilities?

With THREE classes this semester (as you mentioned in another comment), a 25-hour job, and the domestic behemoth–you really need a roadmap to Sanity! You may have already make mental note of the things you are NOT going to worry about for now, at least until the summer. The house can slip a little, and even your divesting can wait, right? If there is any chance that you can squeeze out an hour a week of discretionary time (ha ha) you’ll want to use that to keep the creative embers alive–rather than chasing dust bunnies. I really think the key is to just do SOMETHING every day or every week, even if you only have five minutes for it. Simply to remind yourself of that creative person. It will boost your energy level all around, and help to stave off resentment (if, like me, you are prone to resentment when you get really stressed).

I’m impressed that you get up to work out every day. That is one piece I’m still having a hard time with. Was easier in the summer (and before I was pregnant) when I could go for a run with or without the jogging stroller….but now, I have two unopened prenatal yoga/Pilates DVDs sitting here, waiting for my blossoming rear-end to actually use them. But when you’re moving at warp speed, you will really need that solid physical base–will you be able to keep that up?

A timer is a great idea–especially for things you don’t really want to do. (I can spend two hours paying bills and doing paperwork, even though that task should really only take an hour a week, tops. I’m more efficient when playing beat the clock.) I think it’s great that you are so in the moment that you “forget” the time–that’s a plus, unless you find it puts you too far behind the eight ball in other areas.

I wonder if this would help: instead of thinking in terms of a schedule (which your “inner artist” might want to resist), maybe you could think in terms of a more macro time map, a la Julie Morgenstern (http://tiny.cc/JaKG6/). You can focus on the “rhythm” of the week, rather than a rigid schedule that makes you feel boxed in. This concept maybe old news to you, but in case it’s not, or anyone else is unfamiliar, here’s what you do.

Using a spreadsheet or a plain old piece of paper, create a blank calendar for the week. (You can do this for a “typical” week, if you have such a thing, or for the upcoming week in particular.) Frame the days with your usual (or preferred) wake-up and go-to-bed times. Now block off all the time that you have to spend at work and at school. Then block off your commuting times, and other non-negotiable commitments (the window required to pick your son up from school, take daughter to dance class, etc.). Once you’ve filled in all the do-or-die items, then fill in the high-priority “shoulds”–schoolwork time, working out, when you usually go grocery shopping, and so on. (Be sure to include driving time for each activity.)

Then move to other key items like paying bills and time set aside for making dinner. If it doesn’t feel too micro, also stick in the likely windows for doing laundry, housework, etc. Once you’ve placed in everything that feels non-discretionary, is there any time left over at all?? If there is, it’s probably only a few moments here and there–not nearly enough to do all the things you’d “like” to do. But maybe by delegating to other family members as much as possible, and by consciously prioritizing, you can fit in few moments for creativity. If it turns out that you see a 30-minute block every Friday, claim it! That’s creative time, and treat it like an appointment.

Also, look for places where you can “blend” as much as possible–jot down a few interesting lines while you’re waiting in the pickup line at school, or use a child’s evening class time to immerse yourself in an inspiring book rather than homework, if you can manage it. Sometimes I feel guilty about not being social when all the other moms are gabbing away around me, but in the end I feel better when I’ve used that time to re-stock the well. (Just my personal thing, I’m sure many other women feel more rejuvenated by the socialization.)

Looking at your schedule this way, maybe you’ll find places that you can be more efficient, and make sure you’re hitting all the key cylinders, without feeling boxed in.